This is the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ZR2, a truck GM has designed around the Silverado’s existing Trail Boss trim level with the addition of some impressive off-road hardware. You can see that Chevrolet designed the ZR2 to be a weapon for any trail kind of trail since they haven’t made it grossly wide like a Raptor or a TRX, the ZR2 measures a slender 81.2 inches across, some five to six inches narrower than the Raptor and TRX, which makes getting out of tight squeezes just a tad less stressful.

It’s a really good time to be a truck fan. If you’re a buyer shopping for an off-road pickup, the options available are immense. It always impresses me the kinds of terrain that new 4x4s can tackle straight off the showroom floor while still being comfortable daily drivers.

What is the ZR2 Trim?

For starters, the front and rear differentials have electronic lockers, and Chevy had the foresight to upgrade the half-shafts for the front axle to manage the additional loads when the diff is locked. Underneath, skid plates help keep obstacles from impaling the truck’s vital components and Knobby 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory mud-terrain tires have been wrapped around the standard 18-inch wheels.

The ZR2 comes with Chevy’s excellent dynamic spool valve Multimatic DSSV dampers, also used on the smaller Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 to great effect, not only do they provide great on-road handling but off-road the worst bumps and craters are smoothed over with surprising aplomb.

At the front, a special off-road cut front bumper provides an improved 33.5-degree approach angle, however, the ZR2’s departure angle of 23.3 degrees comes up short versus its immediate competitors. Its breakover angle of 23.4 degrees is impressive though only beaten by the F-150 Raptor on its optional 37-inch tires. Ground clearance is an impressive 10.7 inches.

That trick suspension will have you bouncing over desert terrain like a Baja 1000 racer, it has 9.8 inches of travel in front and 10.6 inches in back which is 2.0 inches more than in the Trail Boss and it also has hydraulic bump stops. If you need to tow anything then it will haul up to 8,900 lbs

Aggressive Looks

At the front, you get a raised black hood which looks good but it’s difficult to see out especially going uphill. It also sports a black chrome (Vader) grille and special LED headlamps.

At the rear Chevrolet chose wisely not to fit massive exhaust tips to the ZR2. Instead, it has routed the truck’s tailpipes high up to prevent any damage when off-road.

Under the hood

The Duramax diesel is positioned as the base engine in the ZR2, the V8 is the option but I think this is the best choice especially since it has way better fuel economy. The excellent 3.0-liter Duramax turbodiesel puts out 305 hp with 495 ft-lbs driven through a 10-speed automatic transmission. 0-60 takes around 7.5 seconds and you can expect to get 22 mpg on the highway,

Driving

The sound of a diesel engine is just so comforting and the personality of the 3.0-liter Duramax, its smoothness, that rumble, and that subtle turbo whistle, never lets you forget you’re driving a diesel.

Performance is good, the engine responds immediately, with torque kicking in at a low 1,500 rpm. Even climbing grades on the highway, engine speeds rarely climb above 2000 rpm, instead, the boost does all the work. It’s nowhere near as quick as the V8 but it doesn’t need to be.

On the road, the Multimatic dampers provide a delightfully supple ride with no inherent harshness but this doesn’t mean it rolls around like a ship in a storm. Even at speed body roll is mostly kept in check when hustling through corners and the ZR2 belies its size by beating relatively nimble. The brakes provide good stopping power and the steering is good despite requiring more effort due to those larger tires.

Off-road BEAST!

The Multimatic dampers’ ability to soak up impacts is impressive, you can blast along washboard surfaces in comfort and it’s only when you hit rougher sections that you get some shudder. We tested the ZR2 on some technical terrain and came away very impressed.

On the more advanced sections of our off-road course, we had to lock both diffs, especially on steep rocky sections where we saw the wheels slip when one wheel was off the ground. The lockers were able to control the spinning tire and get us back on course. On the way back down, hill descent control came in useful, since it allows incremental speed adjustments of 1 mph by using the truck’s cruise control toggle. The ZR2 is not a small vehicle and the trail was narrow in places so maximum control was necessary.

If you select Terrain mode it enables a one-pedal trail driving setup that is surprisingly smooth, you simply press the accelerator to go and release it to stop. The ZR2 automatically engages its brakes to keep it from gaining speed. Hill-descent control allows incremental speed adjustments of 1 mph by using the truck’s cruise control toggle.

Interior

Step inside, and you’re greeted by a refined interior that seamlessly blends comfort and functionality. It’s a big improvement over the older models. The 13.4-inch touchscreen is paired with a 12.3-inch digital driver display which runs Chevrolet’s latest Google-based infotainment software, with Google Maps and the Google Assistant, plus wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support.

It’s easy to navigate, comes preloaded with Chevrolet’s trailering app, and you still get physical knobs and buttons for the dual-zone climate control which we all applaud.

Rear seat space is spacious, head and legroom is great and positively limo-like like and you get plenty of storage space under the seat. Rear seat passengers get USB power and cupholders.

Pricing

It’s not cheap, this tester has a base price of $69,900 and a few options, the tech package is $1,970 and includes a Rear camera mirror, Head-up display, and adaptive cruise control but no Super Cruise. For another $995 you get a power sunroof and for $445 the Multiflex tailgate. Add all that up and the price including destination is $75,800.

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Verdict

There’s not much I would change about the ZR2. The 2024 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 stands as a testament to Chevrolet’s commitment to excellence and innovation. With its performance, off-road capability, and refined interior, this truck sets a new standard for what a modern-day pickup should be. If you are a weekend warrior seeking adventure or a full off-road enthusiast then the Silverado ZR2 delivers.

2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew ZR2 Numbers

BASE PRICE: $69,900
PRICE AS TESTED: $75,800
VEHICLE LAYOUT: Front-engine, 4 wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door pickup
ENGINE: 3.0L DOHC I-6 Turbo-Diesel
POWER: 305 hp @ 3,750 rpm
TORQUE: 495 lb-ft @ 1,500 rpm
TRANSMISSION: 10-speed automatic
CURB WEIGHT: 5,710 lb
0-60 MPH: 7.5 sec
TOWING RATING: Up to $8,900 lbs
EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 20/22/21 mpg
OUR OBSERVED: 17.9 mpg
PROS: Great modern interior, unstoppable off-road, refined off-road manners
CONS:  None